feed advise please....need just a smidge more energy!-sorry long - help feed experts

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kezimac

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As title - i have a 16hh ISH (7/8th TB) she needs a cereal free diet as when she has been on cereals she just is loopy. no alfalfa - as also loopy on that too! She is worked 7 days a week - this consists of either 30 mins lunging/in hand lateral work prob twice a week, 45min -1hr schooling 5 times a week - we do lots trot work, building up canter work with walk breaks. Includes lateral work etc. She is just coming over her back in canter to round properly and when we are getting this she is really having to use her core muscles, she finds this difficult i know but she is just tired afterwards, she is flat in trot- she isnt out of breath at all - she is quite fit, but finding the correct way of working hard and tiring. its as though her muscles are tired and she cant carry on. As though the tank is empty so to speak - we also compete at least once a week (prelim level - getting high 60's occasional 70's about to move up to novice level dressage)
We do hack occasionally - but our hacking isnt great and she doesnt really relax out so its not really an enjoyable ride - if you know what i mean.

So i am thinking she needs more energy and good protein to help said muscles - however she isnt the sort of horse you give cereal to! (not if you want to stay on!)

Her current diet is...(split in two feeds)
total daily amounts...
1.4kg Coolstance Copra meal a day (good protein - low starch)
550g Fast Fibre
400g Linseed Meal
500g Dry weight Kwikbeet

She looks good- is 550kg on weightape - condition perfect - could use a little more topline - but thats work not feed. - I need to feed her so she can build muscle and so that the muscles have some calories to use to keep going....

Was considering Spillers slow release cubes (12% starch - prob would cope with that) ???
Or a balancer - pink powder to help her utilise her feed more....
I really dont know.
So I am at a loss now.....

help?
 
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She sounds like she is doing fab, diet sounds fine- if she is looking good and feeling good then don't go changing! as she strenghens up more she will prob take the work easier, and get used to working in that way - it's v hard for them when they have to work properly and use their tummy muscles!

If you do decide to change then a high oil/high fibre slow release energy diet is good for horses that are hot/spooky and excitable- mine have been on spillers slow release cubes for years and i swear by them, they get pink powder too as they have less than the recommended amount- and one gets extra magnesium for his muscles from feeding magnitude which really relaxes him too. They are ok with Alfalfa so get Alfa oil as well.

Good luck though with her she sounds a lovely horse!
 
I hear good things about power and performance even apparently fed in small amoounts increases energy.

Never used it myself as one of mines is cereal intolerant so cant have lovely things like that lol :)
 
We use the Spillers Response Slow Release Energy Cubes on our lad and have found they work fabulously on him and give him plenty of energy and stamina for his work, but don't fizz him up.
 
thanks guys- spillers slow release do seem good - I was just trying to weigh up whether the protein level in the copra is worth keeping as the protein is lower in the cubes? will it matter?


how much cubes do you feed??????????????

I think protein is 12% in cubes, copra is 20%
Starch is 12% in cubes and 2% in copra

I could up the copra but meal would be way too big and cant get down 3 times a day. Grrrr why is feeding such a science!
 
what about just adding a shot of propell/red cell into your current feed.
If current feed is working well I'd probably stick with it!
 
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